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Figs

Figs is a small, sunny restaurant near the corner of Queen and Parliament that draws in locals for breakfast, brunch and lunch. As someone who loves brunch, but sometimes works weekends, I am always thrilled to find spots that serve good brunch fare during the week.

Figs has the feel of a family-run operation with nice touches sprinkled throughout, like the addition of fresh flowers and plants, and local artwork on the walls. I had heard this place described as Diner-style food so was pleasantly surprised to see a wide selection on the menu; with lighter options like yogurt with honey and granola, and rice pudding with saffron. And as a bruncher who love Eggs Benedict, I'm happy to report there are several variations of the dish for the choosing.

After some deliberation, my friend and I select the Royal Eggs Benedict ($12.99) which consists of smoked salmon and spinach. It's a hearty serving with three eggs, a generous serving of home fries, and fresh grapefruit, melon, and grapes. The notes of lemon in the homemade Hollandaise sauce (rich, but not heavy) are complimented by the sprigs of fresh dill. The eggs are poached to perfection, soft and slightly runny. This version of Eggs Benny is absolutely satisfying, and even feels healthy.

At a crossroads choosing our next dish, we opt for the Full Breakfast. Designed for the bruncher who wants it all, this dish involves bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, fresh fruit, and Belgian Waffle (also $12.99). The waffle has the winning combination of being very light and fluffy, while maintaining a slightly crisp shell. I also like my bacon on the crispy side and Figs delivered, but the shredded potato accompaniment is the standout for this dish; seasoned with paprika, it's addictive. I will return on the basis of these potatoes alone!

My only complaint here would be the coffee ($1.79). I generally enjoy Diner-style coffee, but this cup just didn't cut it for me, and I made a stop-off at another coffee shop after leaving.

The portions are large, the service attentive, and the price reasonable for what you get. Figs may be a little bit out of the way for some, but definitely worth the visit if you're in the area, or just looking for a weekday brunch fix.

Writing by Celeste Percy-Beauregard

Discussion

16 Comments

Soooooo yummy! The owner is the nicest woman and all the staff are awesome. The burgers are delicous, best french and sweet potatoe fries, fresh fruit, sandwiches, etc. They use the freshest and high quality ingredients and put lots of love into everything. This cute little resto is one of my fave brunch/lunch spots in the city!

I couldn't agree more with this review!!! The coffee part is true too... it's a bit bitter, which I don't mind, but my boyfriend isn't a huge fan. He brought his own latte (from Redline, which is around the corner and very good) and they were totally okay with it.

No matter what, Figs is my FAVOURITE brunch spot in the city. The salmon eggs benny, pictured above, is excellent and I am also totally impressed with the steak and eggs. The owner told us she gets the steaks fresh from a butcher in St. Lawrence Market. The fruits are always fresh, too, and handpicked by the owner.

You can definitely tell the owner is hardworking and committed to great food. The comment in this article that there are "nice touches sprinkled throughout" rings absolutely true.

It is a little out of the way, it's true, but there is street parking and it's certainly a diamond in the rough for that neighborhood. Try it out!!!

Great review. Figs has really good food and very pleasant service. My favourite is the homemade hamburger and freshcut fries. They do excellent corn beef potato hash, as well!

I actually think "a little out of the way is a fair comment"

Unless you live and/or work right around the corner (so probably less than 0.001% of the GTA's population) Queen and Parliament can be reasonably considered out of the way. On a Sunday morning, no one says "let's go to Queen and Parliament for a stroll".

Queen and Parliament is not associated with a particular neighborhood and it's in the middle of several great neighborhoods. SO to go to Queen and Parliament, you have to divert from the great neighboorhoods. In most cases, you end up at Queen and Parliament because you actively choose to go there, not because you decided to go for a stroll in Moss Park.

Ellie: Just because Queen and Parliament isn't convenient to you, that doesn't mean it isn't in a neighbourhood. Using bullshit statistics like "0.001%" to dismiss a part of town that is very highly concentrated with poor people is bad practice too. There are currently dozens of developments in the area and it is only a couple blocks from The Distillery (somewhere that qualifies as a "real neighbourhood" in your mind) and the new Regent Park. Real people live here and, thankfully, you don't.

Best Eggs Benny in the city. We're regulars and the staff always remember me, my husband and our girls and most importantly our special order! (we have a customized California Benny that is to die for)

As a big fan of food in general, and brunch in particular, I can honestly say Figs is one of my absolute fave places to eat in the city!! Great staff, wonderful atmosphere, and amazing food!!! My favorite dish is the poached eggs breakfast - perfectly cooked every single time.
I love coming to Figs - its the next best thing to coming home for brunch. Great job! And thanks for spreading the word with such a great review! Everyone should get a chance to eat here!

As someone who lives outside of the GTA, it would have to take a really tasty restuarant to drag me all the way to the opposite end of the city. I must say, the service, staff, overall atmosphere and most importantly, the delicious food, is definitely worth the visit! I love my weekly visits to FIGS!

FIGS charm and character make for the perfect spot to spend a lazy couple of hours on a Saturday or Sunday morning. My boyfriend introduced me to this gem and it is now a regular weekend tradition for us. It's the place where everyone literally knows your name, your favorite table, and your preferences on the menu...5 stars !!